The Beginning of After

talking about the people it was for.
    I thought of my parents’ names, Toby’s name, on a plaque on a bench. Sweaty backs and bra straps pressing against it, stupid kids sticking gum in the corners. I wasn’t sure my family would have wanted to be remembered in any way that had to do with people’s butts.
    “What store would it be across from?” I said, because I couldn’t think of anything else. Meg kicked me under the table, so then I added, “Because my dad always loved the sandwiches at the Village Deli.”
    Andie and Hannah looked at each other, both chewing their bread components. “That’s a great idea!” said Hannah.
    “How do you plan to raise the money?” asked Meg.
    “We’re going to do a bake sale at each of the home football games,” said Hannah. “We’ll ask the senior class to make cookies and brownies and stuff. It can really add up.” She paused, then added, very seriously, “But don’t worry. We won’t ask you guys.”
    “And Laurel, you can get stuff at the bake sale for free,” whispered Andie.
    Just then, my cell phone rang. HOME it said on the display.
    “Hello?” I answered, like I didn’t know it was Nana.
    “Hi, Laurel. How are you?” Her voice strangely formal.
    “I’m having lunch in town.”
    “I just wanted to see how your day was going. You’re with Meg?”
    “And Andie and Hannah.” The girls were trying not to watch me.
    “Those popular girls?”
    I lowered my voice. “Yes, Nana. What does it matter?”
    “Mrs. Dill told me some things about those girls. I’m not sure I want you hanging out with them.”
    “It’s fine. I’m fine. Can I go now? Our pizza’s here,” I lied.
    I hung up. “My grandmother,” I said to Andie and Hannah. “She’s going a little control freak on me.”
    I thought of the last postcard I’d gotten from David. He’d written, Masher, would you believe I can no longer keep track of what town I’m in? It’s an incredible feeling.
    I could see why, sometimes.
    Later, when Meg and I went to the restroom together, she asked me, “What was that about with Nana?”
    “I honestly don’t know.” I wondered how much to tell Meg about what Nana said. “I think your mom has been trash-talking Andie and Hannah.”
    Meg sighed as she turned on the sink to wash her hands. “Yeah. She decided last week that they’re slutty.”
    We paused, awkwardly, so I said, “And you’re not?”
    Meg flicked water at me. I flicked some back. Which meant we didn’t have to talk about it anymore.

Chapter Nineteen

Dear Student:
Your college planning appointment with Mr. Churchwell has been scheduled for MONDAY at 2:30. Please arrive promptly at the guidance office and bring a list of any questions you may have.

    I had found the note taped onto my locker one day in early October, and as I was reading it over, I heard a voice behind me.
    “Looks like we both got tagged!”
    I turned to see Joe Lasky, waving his own note. A sight that made me happy-nervous.
    “They must be doing the L s and M s this week,” I said.
    We were a month into school and I’d barely seen Joe. We had no classes together, and when I saw him in the hallways he was always rounding a corner ahead of me, or walking the other way surrounded by friends. When we did come face-to-face, all we ever had time to do was say hi to each other and keep on moving. Fortunately, Meg was smart enough to stop asking about him.
    “I remembered you’d be here between fifth and sixth period,” he said, and it dawned on me: He’s been hoping to run into me like I’ve been hoping to run into him. “And I was wondering if I could talk to you about a project.”
    I raised my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
    “I’m doing some caricatures for a little art show at the library, and I thought it might be cool if you drew some backgrounds for them. Like the one you did for BlowHard. We could put both our names on the finished pieces.”
    I thought of the stuff I’d drawn on Joe’s sketch pad that day. I’d given BlowHard a really shabby basement apartment, like he was living with his parents.
    I knew that kind of thing looked great on college applications, and I knew it meant Joe and me spending more time together. Even if it was just something he came up with to give us an excuse to hang out, I wanted to take the bait.
    “That would be great, Joe,” I said.
    “I should be ready to show them to you in a couple of weeks. Is that cool?”
    “Sure.”
    He smiled at me and